• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.148-154
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• 2004

This article reviews the development of three-dimensional (3-D) magnetotelluric (MT) modeling. The 3-D modeling of electromagnetic fields is essential in understanding the physics of MT soundings, and in implementing an inversion method to reconstruct a 3-D resistivity image. Although various numerical schemes have been developed over the last two decades, practical methods have been quite limited. However, the recent rapid improvement in computer speed and memory, as well as the advance in iterative solution algorithms for a large system of equations, makes it possible to model the MT responses of complex 3-D structures, which have been very difficult to simulate before. The use of staggered grids in finite difference method has become popular, conserving a magnetic flux and an electric current and allowing for realistic discontinuous fields. The convergence of numerical solutions has been greatly accelerated by adopting Krylov subspace methods, proper preconditioning techniques, and static divergence corrections. The vector finite-element method using edge elements is also free from the discontinuity problem, and seems a natural choice for modeling complex structures including irregular topography because its flexibility allows one to capture full geometric complexity.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.361-368
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• 2003

We have investigated the electric resistivity structure of the fault zone located in the Hongseong area where a big earthquake with M 5.0 occurred in 1978. Usually, Electric and Electromagnetic methods are broadly operated in the field of engineering works since these methods are effective to understand the distribution of geological weak zones - fault or fracture zones. We have conducted the dipole-dipole array resistivity method and MT(magnetotelluric) method and interpreted the resistivity distribution of the fault zone with the aid of various inversion methods. An MT survey was performed at 18 points along a 2.9 km survey line perpendicular to the fault line and a magnetic dipole source was used to enhance the S/N ratio in the high frequency. A Electric dipole-dipole array resistivity survey with the dipole length of 50 meters was carried out perpendicular to the fault. In view of two survey results, the fault marks the boundary between two opposite resistivity structures, especially the low resistivity zone is exhibited deeply through the prospective fault line. The result that the low resistivity zone is located at the center of the fault zone corresponds with the fact that the fault zone of the Hongseong area is active. We expect these results to provide basic information about the physical properties of fault zones in Korea.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.191-199
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• 1994

We have developed an algorithm based on the method of integral equations to simulate the magnetotelluric (MT) responses of three-dimensional (3-D) bodies in a layered half-space. The inhomogeneities are divided into a number of cells and are replaced by an equivalent current distribution which is approximated by pulse basis functions. A matrix equation is constructed using the electric Green's tensor function appropriate to a layered earth, and is solved for the vector current in each cell. Subsequently, scattered fields are found by integrating electric and magnetic Green's tensor functions over the scattering current About a 3-D conductive body near the earth's surface, interpretation using 2-D transverse electric modeling schemes can imply highly erratic low resistivities at depth. This is why these routines do not account for the effect of boundary charges. However, centrally located profiles across elongate 3-D prisms may be modeled accurately with a 2-D transverse magnetic algorithm, which implicitly includes boundary charges in its formulation. Multifrequency calculations show that apparent resistivity and impedance phase are really two complementary parameters. Hence, they should be treated simultaneously in broadband MT interpretation.

• 한국지구물리탐사학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2005.05a
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• pp.197-202
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• 2005

The electromagnetic signals associated with the seismic activity in the south-east offshore of Kii peninsula, Japan, were clearly recorded at the MT sites in Jeju island, Korea. In this research, we have identified the co-seismic electromagnetic signals associated with the seismic activity and have analyzed the characteristics of significant electromagnetic variations. The analysis of phase velocity, power spectral density, MT impedance and polarization direction shows that the significant earthquake signals have the frequency band of about 0.05 to 0.5 Hz and that the sources of electromagnetic field are local effects of passing seismic waves. The simple approximation using electrokinetic effect successfully explains the co-seismic EM signals coincides with measured data but cannot explain the localities of electromagnetic variations.

• 한국지구물리탐사학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2005.05a
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• pp.203-208
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• 2005

We have performed magnetotelluric (MT) surveys to investigate the deep crustal structure of Gyeongsang basin. The MT data were collected in the frequency range from 0.00042 to 320Hz along a profile across the Gyeongsang basin, and 2-D inversion was carried out to interpret the geoelectrical structure. We also extracted gravity data around the MT profile from KIGAM database and calculated the density inversion to compare with the geoelectrical structure. The results obtained are good agreement with geological distribution and indicate contrasts of physical properties of sedimentary rock, igneous rock and metamorphic rock.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.654-664
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• 2011

A field campaign of magnetotelluric (MT) and audio-frequency MT (AMT) survey was done at 36 measurement points as a complementary for the previous 44 MT measurements completed during the period of 2005-2006. The purpose of additional MT survey is to investigate the possible fracture system in Seokmo Island, which is conceived to be crucial in accumulation and migration of geothermal hot spring in this area. We have done 2D and 3D inversions of overall MT and AMT data distributed on a grid to interpret subsurface of extended area. The inversion results reveal that at least two major faults are imaged in the inversion results, one of which is in NNE-SWW with steep dip, and another is in E-W direction.

• 한국지구물리탐사학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2003.11a
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• pp.390-397
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• 2003

A three-dimensional (3D) inversion technique has been developed for interpretation of magnetotelluric (MT) data. The inversion method is based on the linearized least-squares (Gauss-Newton) method with smoothness regularization. In addition to the underground 3D resistivity distribution, static shifts are also treated as unknown parameters in the inversion. The forward modeling is by the staggered-grid finite difference method. A Bayesian criterion ABle is applied to search the optimum trade-off among the minimization of the data misfit, model roughness and static shifts. The method has been applied to several MT datasets obtained at geothermal fields in Japan and other Asian countries. In this paper, two examples will be discussed: one is the data at the Ogiri geothermal area, southwestern Japan, and the other is at the Pohang low-enthalpy geothermal field, southeastern Korea. The inversion of the Ogiri data has been performed stably, resulting in a good fitting between the observed and computed apparent resistivities and phases. The recovered 3D resistivity structure is generally similar to the two-dimensional (2D) inversion models, although the deeper portion of the 3D model seems to be more realistic than that of the 2D model. The 3D model is also in a good agreement with the geological model of the geothermal reservoirs. 3D interpretation of the Pohang MT data is still preliminary. Although the fitting to the observed data is very good, the preliminary 3D model is not reliable enough because the station coverage is not sufficient for a 3D inversion.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.491-498
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• 1994

The integral equation method is used for magnetotelluric (MT) modeling of a finite inhomogeneity in a two-layered earth. An integral equation relates the incident plane-wave field and the scattering currents in the three-dimensional (3-D) inhomogeneity through the electric tensor Green's function appropriate to a layered earth. This paper describes an effect of overburden and basement on MT responses of 3-D body. The effect of overburden is to reduce the detectability of target, and the reduction of detectability is more apparent for conductive overburden than for resistive one. The effect of basement, on the other hand, may enhance the anomaly due to 3-D body in the upper layer. In case of the resistive basement current perturbations about the body tend to be confined to the more conductive upper layer.

• Journal of the Korean Geophysical Society
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.123-134
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• 1999

Magnetotelluric responses may be affected by strong anisotropy of the high-conductivity layers (HCL) in the upper mantle or lower crust. We have studied two-dimensional anisotropy MT modelling to examine the effect of high anisotropic media. Electrical properties of a homogeneous anisotropic body are defined by a symmetric conductivity tensor and the problem is described by coupled diffusion equation in the frequency domain. In two-dimensional anisotropic environments, diagonal elements of the impedance tensor have higher values than those in isotropic environments. In some cases, TM mode phases reach more than 90°and apparent resistivities decrease for some frequency range because of telluric distortion. GB decomposition may be used to recover regional responses, but can be affected by the regional anisotropic effect. Considering these results, BC87 dataset was interpreted with a modified anisotropic model.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.275-284
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• 2007

For precise interpretation of magnetotelluric (MT) data distorted by irregular surface terrain, topography effects are investigated by computing apparent resistivities, phases, tippers and induction vectors for a three-dimensional (3D) hill-and-valley model. To compute MT responses for the 3D surface topography model, we use a 3D MT modeling algorithm based on an edge finite-element method which is free from vector parasites. Distortions on the apparent resistivity and phase are mainly caused by distorted currents that flow along surface topography. The distribution of tipper amplitudes over both hill and valley are the same, while the tipper points toward the center of hill and the base of the valley. The real part of induction vector also points in the same direction as that of tipper, while the imaginary part in the opposite direction.